Collapse horror: woman critical

The devastation after the wall collapse on Brook Lane, Glodwick.

A woman is fighting for her life after a 12ft stone wall collapsed on top of her as she walked with a friend to pick up children from a local school.

The 50-year-old is in a critical condition at the Royal Oldham Hospital after suffering multiple injuries to her ribs and spine.

Her 38-year-old friend was treated for minor injuries and has since been discharged. The pair were covered by flying debris as a garden wall in Brook Lane, Oldham, gave way yesterday afternoon.

Mohammed Alyas, who lives near by, heard a loud bang and rushed to pull the most seriously injured woman from under the rubble.

Neighbours feared a toddler was also buried under the large stone blocks. Fire crews used thermal imaging and fibre optic cameras to check there was no-one else under the debris.

The two women were thought to be on their way to near-by Alexandra Junior School at around 3.30pm. Building inspectors made the rest of the wall and a large tree safe.

Mr Alyas, whose clothing was still covered in blood and dust, said: “I was just watching TV — the next thing I heard was a big bang. I didn’t know what it was.

“I went outside and one woman was injured and crying. I just saw the back of the shirt of the other woman.

“I pulled her out — her right leg was definitely broken and she was bleeding.”

Another neighbour, Karen Wrigley, of Brook Lane, said: “One woman was sat on the kerb crying. Another was brought out on a stretcher.”

The wall held up the back garden at the former St Mark’s vicarage, a large Victorian house dating from 1892 and fronting on to Alexandra Road. It is now a private home.